ST. LOUIS — Dakota Hudson’s arm and bat gave the Cardinals another boost in their postseason push.

Hudson pitched six innings of one-hit ball and hit a two-run single for his first big league RBIs, helping the Cardinals rout the Giants 10-0 on Thursday to open a three-game lead over the second-place Cubs in the NL Central.

The Cubs faced the third-place Brewers on Thursday night in Milwaukee.

“I feel like I didn’t have my best offspeed stuff,” Hudson said. “I commanded my cutter pretty well and I was able to get that sinker down in the zone and get some weak ground balls. Besides that, I was able to eat up as many innings as I could. I fell short in my own eyes trying to get a little deeper.”

Paul DeJong hit an early two-run homer, and Paul Goldschmidt singled and scored twice for the Cards, who won for the sixth time in seven games.

“We’re just keeping the gas down,” Cards manager Mike Shildt said.

The Giants has lost five of six and eight of 10, dropping nine games back for the NL’s second wild card at 67-73.

Hudson (15-6) allowed a one-out single in the second to Kevin Pillar and walked Brandon Crawford, then retired 14 of his final 15 batters. He has won five straight starts.

Genesis Cabrera finished the four-hitter for his first big league save.

The Cards blew open the game with a five-run third that included a pair of miscues by the Giants.

Hudson’s single chased Webb and boosted the lead to 7-0.